On starting a new quarter and new goals

Well, I am back at Stanford after a long Winter Break, but still in quarantine! Winter Break was fun, spent a lot of time bear hugging my cat much to his chagrin, my sister came over and spent a few days, spent my mom's birthday making a cake with her, parents and I had fun binge watching Ted Lasso, Designated Survivor, and Bates Motel, I was able to relax and not worry too much about stuff (maybe ponder a bit if relationship with my mom has any parallels with the dysfunctional one portrayed in Bates Motel - just kidding Mom!)

Anyway, the new quarter starts tomorrow, and I am honestly excited - I can't wait to get back to the lab, and have fun with some new and challenging courses. For starters, I am taking CS 229M - Machine Learning Theory, which is going to be fun, but hard due to the new and different type of math involved. Furthermore, coupled with a Deep Learning Class, and a Molecular Biology Class - I am actually going to be way out of my element this quarter, with no engineering focused classes. I don't expect this quarter to be easy - but as my dad likes to say "Nothing is easy!"

This time around, I want to set some different goals from last quarter. Without further ado, here they are:

1. Pass my PE Chemical Exam - I passed my FE Exam back in August, and although its not a necessity by any means, I wanted to test my Chemical Engineering knowledge so that I don't lose it. The PE Exam is scheduled on February 2nd - so this goal will be a relatively fast one to figure out whether I met it or not.

2. Average 25+ miles per week of running - This time around I want to focus on improving my cardio and endurance.

3. Play Tournament Chess Again - I last played a tournament of chess 10 years ago, and at the time I was a bit too young to take it seriously to get to the next level. This year, I want to practice chess, and relearn opening and chess skills to play a tournament (Covid permitting!)

4. Do a 5 minute plank - My abs are very weak! Want to get them stronger so by the end of the quarter - if I can do a 5 minute plank, I will be very happy.

5. Confirm my Thesis Advisor - Although I have until the end of the 2020-2021 Academic year to find a PhD advisor, I want to confirm this quarter.

I can feel that this is going to be a bit more transformative quarter than the last one - PhD life will start to take a more full swing, I turn 21 in February (crossing the last legal barrier to adulthood), and a new Biden administration is coming into town later this month.

Presidential inaugurations for me act as a timekeeper for my life - my first real memory of being in the United States was watching a Bush press conference on T.V in 2005.

I remember holding American flags in school during Obama's Inauguration in 2009 which we watched live in class! Later that year, we would move to Memphis, TN.

In 2013, Obama's second Inauguration coincided with my year that I skipped 7th grade. College aspirations, high school, and puberty coincided, and I started my teenage years.

In 2017, senior year was coming to an end. I was in Physics Class and we were all huddled together on Youtube watching Trump give his America First speech. College would start later that year!

This year 2021 - with Biden's inauguration - its going to be a special marker for me - not sure what will it be for - maybe for deciding which direction I want my PhD to go or something else entirely, or when the pandemic finally comes to an end, but who knows? Only time will tell!

I am excited for this quarter and this year - lets go and meet it face on!